2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E: First Drive Review

Here’s why the 480-HP all-electric ‘Stang is a worthy sacrilege against combustion engines.

A Worthy Sacrilege 

The 2022 Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s first fully-fledged electric car. Purists were fast to argue that slapping the Mustang badge over an EV—and a crossover at that—is an act of betrayal against the gods of pony cars. And yet, the marketing strategy is spot on: Match the iconic badge with a highly demanded body type and a potent drivetrain to drive piping hot sales.

There’s a long list of competitors out there that the Mach-E needs to outshine: Tesla Model 3, VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and even KIA EV6. 

Output starts at 265 horsepower on the Standard Range version and 290 hp on the Extended Range model. The AWD Extended Range clocks in at 346 hp, while the range-topping Mach-E GT boasts 480 hp and an astounding 635 pound-foot of torque. The Mach-E GT reaches 60-mph in 3.7 seconds, a whole 1.2 seconds faster than the Standard Range Mach-E.

Who Needs Buttons?

Electrification tends to scare physical buttons away, as evidenced by pretty much every EV on the market. In the Mach-E’s case, a center, vertically mounted 15.5-inch touchscreen controls everything from music, navigation, heating and cooling, drive modes and other infotainment features. There’s also a lone physical volume knob mounted on the lower part of the touchscreen.

The seats in the Mach-E are some of the most comfortable out there, electric or not. They provide a comfortable fit for extended rides but also boast plenty of lateral support when toying with the throttle around corners. The upholstery feels so luxurious one may at first think it is made of actual leather, but the ActiveX material used is 100% vegan.

Does It Drive Like A Mustang?

First of all, the funkily-named drive modes of the Mach-E must be acknowledged: Whisper, Engage and Unbridled. An electric crossover that whispers? Isn’t that the norm for electric vehicles?

The Mach-E GT is equipped with Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Elect performance tires and magnetorheological dampers, giving the Mach-E agile handling and a smooth ride. When you put your foot to the floor, it’s able to generate 0.92g of lateral acceleration – slightly below the average for the segment. It does however outbreak the Tesla Model Y both from 70mph and 100mph. 

The Engage drive mode is the most well-rounded of the three, with plenty fast throttle response and adequate cornering behavior. The Unbridled settings tend to turn the throttle pedal into an on/off switch with basically zero modulation. 

Conclusion

We are galloping into an era where EVs are racing to take the place of internal combustion engines, with the lingering issue of range anxiety. Yet, in its Extended Range trim, the Ford Mustang Mach-E combines a sought-after chassis with plenty of battery to go even on overnight trips.

For daily traffic through the city, the Mach-E can go even a few days without having to see the charging cable.  Once you get over the Mustang badging on an electric drivetrain, you are presented with a great car for all purposes.